Patent US4427495A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4427495A
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Apparatus and method for upgrading low pressure steam brines and the like
Assignee: SUPERIOR THERMAL Inc A CORPOF
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Filing: 1982-07-02
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Granted: 1984-01-24
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Expires: 2002-07-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a method for upgrading low pressure steam or brine, such as from a geothermal well, to prepare the steam or brine for any one of a number of uses, such as for conversion to pure, high pressure, high temperature steam for driving turbines. The system operates in a degasification phase in which a small amount of superheated steam is applied to the brine to scrub the same to cause the removal of concentrated gases therefrom. The degasified product is then pumped to a high pressure, heated countercurrently, and directed through a demineralized phase to remove the salts and solids in a liquid phase and convert the bulk of the water into pure, high pressure saturated steam. The steam output from the demineralizing phase can then be used to produce useful work, such as driving a turbine. In addition to forming saturated steam from geothermal brine, the system can be used to form pure saturated steam from impure water from any suitable source. The system can be used to produce clear, potable hot water from sea water and other water having contaminants therein. For dry steam from geothermal wells, the gas-contaminated steam is converted to brine without loss of temperature or pressure by adding pure hot water so that the resulting mixture can be degasified in the liquid phase. Valuable salts can be recovered and gases of commercial value can be isolated by the present method.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth J. Masero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:42
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/02; C02F1/04; C02F1/16; F; F01; F01K; F01K21/00; F01K21/06; F03; F03G; F03G4/00; F03G4/074; F22; F22D; F22D11/00; F22D11/006; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S159/00; Y10S159/31; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/11; Y10S203/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
A method of converting aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids into pure saturated steam comprising: providing a source of superheated steam; directing a flow of aerated water having dissolved salts and suspended solids therein along a predetermined path; degasifying the water as it flows along said path, said degasifying step including scrubbing the water with a quantity of superheated steam from said source; exerting a back pressure on the water before it is degasified; pressurizing and heating the water after it has been degasified to a pressure at least 70% of the critical pressure but less than the critical pressure and to a temperature of at least 500° F. where the critical pressure is the pressure at which the latent heat of vaporization is substantially zero; moving the water and a quantity of the superheated steam from said source into a mixing zone and into admixing relationship with each other to increase the temperature of the water and cause a major portion of the water to be vaporized and converted to saturated steam while leaving only a residual amount of water containing salts and other solids without substantially condensing the superheated steam; separating the saturated steam from the residual water containing the salts and solids, said source being independent of the residual water separated from the saturated steam; and recirculating at least a part of the saturated steam from said mixing zone to said source of superheated steam.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
240 words
A method of converting aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids into pure saturated steam comprising: providing a source of superheated steam; directing a flow of aerated water having dissolved salts and suspended solids therein along a predetermined path; degasifying the water as it flows along said path, said degasifying step including scrubbing the water with a quantity of superheated steam from said source; exerting a back pressure on the water before it is degasified; pressurizing and heating the water after it has been degasified to a pressure at least 70% of the critical pressure but less than the critical pressure and to a temperature of at least 500° F. where the critical pressure is the pressure at which the latent heat of vaporization is substantially zero; moving the water and a quantity of the superheated steam from said source into a mixing zone and into admixing relationship with each other to increase the temperature of the water and cause a major portion of the water to be vaporized and converted to saturated steam while leaving only a residual amount of water containing salts and other solids without substantially condensing the superheated steam; separating the saturated steam from the residual water containing the salts and solids, said source being independent of the residual water separated from the saturated steam; and recirculating at least a part of the saturated steam from said mixing zone to said source of superheated steam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pressure and temperature of said degasified water is at least 90% of the critical pressure and at least 550° F., respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said aerated water is geothermal brine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
354 words
Apparatus for converting aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids to saturated steam comprising: means defining a source of superheated steam, said source having a fluid outlet; means defining a fluid mixing zone, said mixing zone defining means having an inlet nozzle, the outlet of the source being in fluid communication with the nozzle; means defining a path of flow for aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids, said path being in fluid communication with said mixing zone; means across said path for preheating the water flowing along the path; means coupling the path defining means to be a source of said water; means coupled with the path defining means and said source of superheated steam for degasifying means the water flowing along the path by scrubbing the water with a portion of the superheated steam; means across said path for providing a back pressure in the water flowing toward said degasifying means; means coupled with said degasifying means for pumping the degasified water along the path and for heating the degasified water as it moves along said path, said degasified water being movable by pumping into the nozzle and into admixing relationship with superheated steam in said mixing zone to cause a major portion of the water to be evaporated and to be converted into saturated steam while a residual amount of water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids remains unevaporated, said pumping means and heating means being operable to pressurize and heat, respectively, the degasified water to a pressure at least 70% of the critical pressure but less than the critical pressure and to a temperature of at least 500° F. where the critical pressure is the pressure at which the latent heat of vaporization of the degasified water is substantially zero; means coupled with said mixing zone for separating the residual water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids from the saturated steam; and means coupled with said separating means for directing the saturated steam away from the zone, said directing means including means for recirculating at least a part of the saturated steam to said source of superheated steam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
354 words
Apparatus for converting aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids to saturated steam comprising: means defining a source of superheated steam, said source having a fluid outlet; means defining a fluid mixing zone, said mixing zone defining means having an inlet nozzle, the outlet of the source being in fluid communication with the nozzle; means defining a path of flow for aerated water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids, said path being in fluid communication with said mixing zone; means across said path for preheating the water flowing along the path; means coupling the path defining means to be a source of said water; means coupled with the path defining means and said source of superheated steam for degasifying means the water flowing along the path by scrubbing the water with a portion of the superheated steam; means across said path for providing a back pressure in the water flowing toward said degasifying means; means coupled with said degasifying means for pumping the degasified water along the path and for heating the degasified water as it moves along said path, said degasified water being movable by pumping into the nozzle and into admixing relationship with superheated steam in said mixing zone to cause a major portion of the water to be evaporated and to be converted into saturated steam while a residual amount of water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids remains unevaporated, said pumping means and heating means being operable to pressurize and heat, respectively, the degasified water to a pressure at least 70% of the critical pressure but less than the critical pressure and to a temperature of at least 500° F. where the critical pressure is the pressure at which the latent heat of vaporization of the degasified water is substantially zero; means coupled with said mixing zone for separating the residual water containing dissolved salts and suspended solids from the saturated steam; and means coupled with said separating means for directing the saturated steam away from the zone, said directing means including means for recirculating at least a part of the saturated steam to said source of superheated steam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said pressure and temperature of the degasified water is at least 90% of the critical pressure and at least 550° F., respectively.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said aerated water is geothermal brine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-01-23 | 1987-07-25 | 1988-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-01-23 | 1991-07-25 | 1992-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-01-23 | 1995-07-25 | 1996-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |